May Add Some Live Plants

[Fishstix]

I have plastic plants now and was thinking about adding a few live ones to mix in with. I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank with pebbles on the bottom. I have one flourescent bulb. I noticed my LFS had Anacharis (sp?) and Java Fern in stock.

1. What are some hardy and easy to care for plants i could add?

2. Do i need a special substrate? Mix it in with my pebbles?


Thanks.

 

[Bol]

I'm guessing you have a standard setup, with a 30" long tank, and one single 24" long bulb (probably 20W) over it.

1. Java fern, java moss, and some anubias come to mind. Chances are, the anacharis won't do very well. Here's a few searchable lists of low-light plants: You can go to Tropica's site, and use the Advanced Search to search for low-light plants, or you could check the low-light section of Plantgeek's plant profile section.

2. Special "plant-type" substrate is never mandatory, but you'll usually get better results using it. However, in a very low-light tank like yours, personally I think it'd be a waste of money.

Since you mention "pebbles", I'm guessing your substrate grain size is larger than 'normal' aquarium gravel. If so, I'd suggest reading the I'm really really stuck thread in this forum.

 

[Fishstix]

Thanks Bol for all that great info. I may start with Java Fern for now and maybe an Amazon Sword. I hear that i'm supposed to tie the Java Fern to a rock or wood with a rubber band? Also,do i need to put any fertilizer in the water?

 

[Bol]

You can tie the fern to something if you want. I generally tuck the roots into the substrate (leaving the rhizome above the substrate, which is important). If you tie it, just use any inert non-metallic substance: cotton thread, plastic ties, rubber bands (which may disintegrate too quickly), fishing line, etc.

Also, my personal opinion on ferts in a low-light tank is, they're probably unnecessary. It depends a lot on the makeup of your source (tap) water, though. I would recommend not starting with fertilizers, but waiting a few weeks and seeing how the plants do.

By the way, if you can find a 'crypt', I'd recommend that over the sword. Crypts are great rosette plants for low-light tanks.